Adjustable mounting for ditching wheel excavators



July 15, 1952 R. N. BENNETT 2,603,008

ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR DITCHING WHEEL EXCAVATORS Filed NOV. 21, 1946 Ilj'l' 3 Sheets-Sheet l Elm/ 12 T N. Erma TT INVENTOR.

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15, 1952 R. N. BENNETT 2,503,008

ADJUSTABLE MGUNTING FOR DITCHING WHEEL EXCAVATORS Filed Nov. 21, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v g INVENTOR. 12035127 NBBNNBTT ATTY.

July 15,1952 BENNETT 2,603,008

ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR DITCHING WHEEL EXCAVATORS Filed Nov. 21, 194.6 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Fuzzy!" NBz'mTT @QLMMIMQM .ATTY.

Patented July 15, 1952 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT: OFFICE; 7 2,503,008 ADJUSTABLETMOUNTING'FORDITCHING WHEEL EXCAVATORS v Robert N. Bennett, McComb, Ohio asSigncr to Gar Wood Industries, Inc, Detroit- Mich, a r

; corporation of Michigan v Application November 21, 1946, S-eriaPNo; 711,358-

This invention relatesto digging machines and particularly to a machine in the nature of a road' widener'for excavating and leveling the ground immediately adjacent the road pavement to forma berm or to receive a pavement widening strip.

An object of this invention is to produce a; new andimproved machine of this type in which a digging wheel" is adjustably mounted on the tractor in driving connection with its power source for operating on the road berm while the tractor is traveling in a manner not to interfere with normal road trafii'c; the'diggi ng' wheel being shiftable through anarc of 90 to inoperative or traveling position.

Anotherobjectis to produce a digging attachment which is mounted on a traction machine in a manner to enable positioning thereof to one side and to the-rear of the traction machine for operation on the side of: the road adjacent that onwhich the machine is traveling, to enable vertical adjustment in the direc-tion toward or away fromthe ground while so positioned, and to enable" positioning of the attachment in lengthwis'e-alignment ontothe rear of the tractionmeans while inoperative, thereby, in that posi-' tion, to conform more substantially to the-width 01' the tractionimachine to obviate road: hazards while traveling from place'to. place;

A further object is 'to produce an improved means for mounting a digging attachment onto: the rear of a truck, which enables shifting of the attachment between'the ope and traveling positions with the expenditure ofa minimum of time and labor while-enabling vertical adjustment thereof in either position, the attachment being 'suc'h'as. to militate against binding, distor-L tion or excessive strain on the parts when the" machine is operating over uneven surfaces.

Other objects. and advantages of the invention willf Hereinafter appear," and'fo'r purposes of illustration but notof limitation, an embodiment of v the invention is; shown in the accompanying "Figure 2 is. an enlarged detailside elevation of the'exca-vating attachment. in operative positlon at the" sideof the truck, only a fragment of thetruck being shown; and

Figure: 3 is a top planview of the excavating attachment,-. shown in solid lines in the ope'rative position; and in' broken I lines in the traveling" position} with .parts removed more clearly to'.

illustrate'the-mounting structure. i

The structure embodying the invention comprises a digging attachment A, which is carried ment A-is vertically adjustable .relativetoth'e" auxiliary frame 13* and is adapted to be shifted.

laterally of theirame .for1disposition' in the operative position, and to be disposed inwalign-v ment with the; frame in the inoperativeposition, as will hereinafter-beexplained, v The auxiliary frame B, conforms generally the rectangular contour of the truck chassis C, and: includes a pair of lengthwise 'stringers l', fixed at theirforw-ard ends to the upper -terminals'of vertical posts 2', which are secured to intermediate portions of longitudinal channel members} of the chassis frame. The rearward ends Offbllestringers l are secured to upper pore tions ot upright pillars 4, which are respectively rigidly-mounted on crosswise frame members 3a of the: chassis frame.- Bracing each: of the; stringers l are inclinedbeams- 5 and 6, which diverge f tromintermediate portions. of the stringers and connect at their lower ends-to the corner sections formed of the adjacent posts 2;, and pillars 4 with channelmembers 3. ,The

stringers l are transversely braced by a cross member Landau X-frame 8 reinforces the up right pillars I;

The digging attachment A is carried by upright tubular column 9 which is held in-fixed position by upper and lower brackets Ill and- H respectively. -These brackets are secured between pairs of converging metal plates l2 and i3,

which extend crosswise of and beyond one side of the frame-and are rigidly secured to the op posite ends-of the pillars4. Cross members Ill and l 5 further reinforce the pillars at their -respective upper and lower end portions.- At the upper end; portion another plate l 2 isarranged betweenthe plates l2 and parallel tonne of them and is welded to an auxiliary cross member [4) The-crossmember I4" is rigidwith the'pillars l Atop platexl5 is secured to the box-likeystructure'above described. 1

3 wheel frame I6. The frame I6 has at its forward inner end a rigid housing l1, which is rigid with the lower portion of a vertically disposed elongate sleeve l8. The sleeve l8 slides on and can rotate about the column 9. The rear of the frame 16 is supported by an inclined tubular strut I9, which projects through and is slidable relative to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined extension bracket 20 on the frame, a pair of collars 2! adjustable on the strut providing stops for limiting the relative movement of these parts. Manifestly, when the digging wheel frame is elevated, the bracket 20 engages the lower of the collars 2| which thereby assistsv in sustaining the weight of the outer frame portion. The

.other end 22 of the strut I9 is pivotally secured to the upper end portion of the sleeve 18. The outer side of the frame [6 is supported by an upright hangar bar 23, which is pivotally secured at its lower end to an extension 24 on the outer front portion of the frame l6 and is adjustably engaged at its threaded upper end 25 by a bracket 26. In machines of this character, a certain amount of play is allowed in some joints and, although this is not sizable, nevertheless it is such as to makepossible slight angle frame adjustments made possible by the threaded end 25 of the hangar bar 23. The bracket 26 has a pair of laterally extending divergent truss members 21 and 28, which are secured to upper and intermediate portions respectively of the sleeve [8. Thus, upon movement of the sleeve vertically on its supporting column 9, the digging attachment is concomitantly adjusted in the direction toward or away from the ground.

In order to hold thedigging attachment A in' fixed relation to the tractor frame, there is provided an elongate housing 30, which forms a part of the digging wheel frame '16. The housing 30 extends laterally across the frame and rigidly connects the front ends of-longitudinal frame beams 3|. A telescoping shaft 32 extends into the housing a substantial distance when the digging wheel is in position of use. The shaft 32 extends throughan end cap 33 of the housing and attached to the outer end of the shaft is a stop plate 34, a guide bracket 34a within the housing snugly embracing and guiding the shaft. An arm 35 is rigid with and extends perpendicu larly from the free end of the shaft 32 and isen-" gageable with a yoke 36 so that apertures in the ends of the arm and the yoke 36 are in registryso that a removable pin 31 may be inserted therethrough. The yoke 36 is secured to the rear wall of rearwardly extending triangular slide bracket 38, which is slidable vertically on the left-hand pillar 4 (Figure 1). The arm 35 is provided with a straight end wall 39 to enable abutment with a substantial portion of the inner face of the yoke 36, thereby to militate against relative movement of the arm 35. r

The sleeve l6 and the slide bracket 38 are adjustably suspended by a pair of hoist cables 40' and 4|. The cable 40 is anchored at one end to an intermediate portion of the slide bracket 38 and the other end is fixed to a drum 42. The drum 42 rotates with ashaft'43, which is journaled between upper portions of the pillars 4. The other cable 4| is anchored at one end to an intermediate portion of the sleeve l8, thence passes over a pair of sheaves 45 and 46 'rotatably mounted on shafts positioned between the upper extension plates I2 and I2, and then downwardly to a drum 48 on an end portion of the shaft, 43.

A cable 49 extends from a drum 50 secured totheother end of the shaft 43 and to a winch 5| which is suitably driven in one direction or the other by the power plant P.

As illustrated, when the winch 5| is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 1), the drum 50, drums 42 and 48 are similary rotated to wind up the cables 40 and 4! and raise simultaneously the sleeve 18 and slide bracket 38. Manifestly, by rotation of the winch 5| in the opposite direction, the parts are lowered to dispose the excavator in position of use.

The excavating means in the form of a digging wheel is mounted for rotational movement within the frame I6 and comprises a pair of annular rim members 52 and53 which are laterally spaced a a distance corresponding to the width of the strip it is desired to dig. The rim members are conheated by an annular series of excavating buckets 54, which are provided with outwardly projecting rooters 55. The digging wheel is supported in the frame I6 at three spaced apart points, two of which comprise guide rollers56 and 51 which engage the inner edge of the rim members and are adjustably mounted in a suitable framework 58 carried by the frame [6. The third point of support consists of a gear 59 mounted on a drive shaft 60 which is journaled in the frame 16 to extend transversely therethrough and in driving engagement with teeth 6| arranged in an annular row on the rims 52 and 53.

On the inner end of the shaft 60 there is a sprocket wheel (not shown) connected by a sprocket chain 63 to another sprocket wheel 64 secured to the outer end of a shaft 65 which is journaled in a transmission housing 66 fixed to the top of the housing I]. A sprocket chain 61 connects a sprocket 68, onthe other end of the shaft 65, sprocket wheels 69 and 10, and a sprocket wheel I l the latter being suitably driven from the power source P through a suitable transmission F. ,The sprocket 69 is mounted on the adjacent pillar 4, and the sprocket 10 is mounted on the end of a pivotally mounted arm 12. The arm 12 is urged toswing in a clockwise direction (Figure 2) by a coil spring 13 thereby constantly to tension the chain 61 in any relative position of adjustment of the digging wheel.

An endless conveyor belt 15 is guided over rollers 16 and 11, which are journaled in suitable bearing brackets 18 secured to the frame beams 3i, and extends-transversely through the digging wheel to carry the spoil delivered by the digging buckets to the outer side of the machine. Guide aprons'lfl and are mounted on opposite sides of the upper run of the belt. The conveyor belt I5 is driven by the inner roller 16, which in turn is operated by the driving shaft 65 through suitable gearing in the transmission housing 66.

Suspended from the rear of the digging wheel frame [6 by a suitable support 8| is a shoe 82,

which, is adapted to ride1on the bottom of the.

trench in close proximity to the digging wheel, so that, in combination with a shroud 83, the loose and unexcavated material is placed in a position-where it will be removed by the revolving buckets 54.

When not in use, the digging wheel A is adapted to be swung about the column 9 and into length-' is' d-isengaged from the. sprocket 68. Thedigging wheel-can now be readily swung about the column 9 through an arc of about 90 until. an apertured' plate Bkweldecl in proper position-on the inner frame beam- 3| is disposed between the. yoke 35. Theipi'n. 3Iis then inserted through the registered apertures for locking' the digging wheel and associatedlparts in traveling-position. Sincethe slide bracket SS' and the frame l6 move vertically to-: gethen engagement of. the plate 84 with the. yoke BGLoa'nJibe effected in any position of. vertical adjustment. 1 z

.Fromithe above descriptionit is apparent that. when the digging wheel is mounted .on thei-rearof thetru'ck in the-inoperative or traveling posi-: tion, thentruck may be driven on the road from place to place without disturbing the road traffic, because in that position; its 1 wheel axis is; in lengthwise alignment with the truck and only. a small portion of the attachment extends laterally of the truck body. Since the digging .wheel framelfiis firmly engaged at two points, which are simultaneously vertically adjustable, vertical adjustment may still be readily effected in the inoperative position without disturbing the mounted relation.

When the digging wheel is in' the operative position, its wheel axis is transverse with the truck and it is operative on the side of the road closely'adja cent that on which the truck is traveling. This enables excavating a trench inparallel relation with the truck movement while traveling in its proper position on the road. The conveyor is adapted to receive the excavated material and deposit it on the far side of the excavated trench so that in operation, no hazard or obstruction to normal road traffic is produced. The excavating wheel is readily adjusted vertically by operation of the Winch 5| in one direction or the other to increase or decrease the depth of the trench.

It is manifest that I have produced a road widening machine adapted to excavate a trench along one side of a highway for receiving a widening strip of pavement while the truck is traveling in its normal road position. New and, improved mounting means are provided which enable the excavating attachment to be vertically adjusted while in the operative or inoperative position, and to be positioned in lengthwise alignment with the truck while inoperative or swung through an arc of 90 to the excavating position through the expenditure of a minimum of labor and time; and which enables the machine or excavating attachment to operate over uneven surfaces without impairing the alignment or operation of the parts.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation of the parts may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A road widening machine comprising a truck, an excavating wheel, said truck having a frame carrying said wheel, a supplemental frame including an extension at the rear of said frame, a pivotal mounting at one side of said extension, a yoke carried by said extension, a housing forming part of said excavating wheel frame, a telescoping member shiftable in said housing and adapted to be rigidly attached to said yoke when in operative position and to militate against swinging movement and upon disengagement from said yoke said excavating wheel frame is enabled to be swung to an inoperative position rigidly'attachedto sai 3 side of -the' tr-uckfordigging purposes and't'o be swung through an ang-le of -about tothetraveling position on the rear ofthe truck and'i-n either position of horizontal adjustment to'be vertically positionedrelativeto the truck, means for raising andlowering thedigging wheel frame relative to the truck, and means for holding thedigging wheelf-rame in the desiredposition of horizontal adjustment, the means for positioning the digging -wheel frame in the desiredposition ofhorizontal' adjustmentcomprising a" housing which extends transversely across-the'diggih Wheel frame a telescoping member adapted to extend laterally -from:- said housing when in' the digging position, andmeans on the other side ofsaid supplemental. frame adapted rigidly to; engage said telescoping member when in the ex-= cavating position and an intermediate portion of said digging wheel frame in the traveling position.

3. A road widening machine comprising a truck, a supplemental frame mounted on the truck chassis and forming an extension at the rear and at one side of the truck, said extension having a vertical guide means, a digging wheel. a digging wheel frame for said digging wheel carried by said guide means in a manner enabling the digging wheel to be disposed at one side of the truck for digging purposes and to be swun through an angle of about 90 to the traveling position on the rear of the truck and in either position of horizontal adjustment to be vertically positioned relative to the truck, means for raising and lowering the digging wheel frame relative to the truck, and means for holding the digging wheel frame in the desired position of horizontal adjustment, the means for positioning the digging wheel frame in the desired position of horizontal adjustment comprising a housing which extends transversely across the digging wheel frame, a telescoping member adapted to extend laterally from said housing when in the digging position, and means on the other side of said supplemental frame adapted rigidly to engage said telescoping member when in the excavating position and an intermediate portion of said digging wheel frame in the traveling position, said means being vertically adjustable with said digging wheel frame.

4. A road widening machine comprising a truck, a supplemental frame mounted on the truck chassis and forming an extension at the rear and at one side of the truck, said extension having a vertical guide means, a digging wheel, a digging wheel frame for said digging wheel carried by said guide means in a manner enabling the digging wheel to be disposed at one side of the truck for digging purposes and to be swung through an angle of about 90 to the traveling position on the rear of the truck and in either position of horizontal adjustment to be vertically positioned relative to the truck, means for raising and lowering the digging wheel frame relative to the truck, and means for holding, the digging wheel frame in the desired position of horizontal adjustment, the horizontal positioning means comprising an extension on the rear of said supplemental frame which extension is vertically adjustable with said digging wheel frame, a yoke carried by said extension, a housing forming a part of said digging wheel frame, a telescoping member shiftable in said housing and adapted to be rigidly attached to said yoke when the digging wheel frame is in the digging position to militate against swinging movement, said telescoping member being disengageable from said yoke to enable the digging wheel frame to be swung to the traveling position, and an extension on said digging wheel frame adapted to be rigidly attached to said yoke when in the traveling position.

5. A road widening machine comprising a truck a supplemental frame mountedon the truck chassis and forming an extension at the rear and at one side of the truck, said extension having a vertical guide means, a digging wheel, a digging wheel frame for said digging wheel carried by said guide means in a manner enabling the digging wheel to be disposed at one side of the truck for digging purposes and to be swun through an angle of about 90 to the traveling position on the rear of the truck and in either position of horizontal adjustment to be vertically positioned relative to the truck, means for raising and lowering the digging wheel frame relative to 8 the truck, and means for holding the digging whee1 frame in the desired position of horizontal adjustment, the horizontal positioning means comprising an extension on the rear of said supplemental frame which extension is vertically adjustable with said digging wheel frame, a yoke carried by said extension, a housing forming a part of said digging wheel frame, a telescoping member shiftable in said housing and adapted to be rigidly attached to said yoke when the digging wheel frame is in the digging position to militate against swinging movement, said telescoping member being disengageable from said yoke to enable the dig ing wheel frame to be swung to the traveling position, and an extension on said digging wheel frame adapted to be rigidly attached to said yoke when in the traveling position, and the raising and lowering means comprising hoist means for vertically adjusting said digging wheel frame and the second mentioned extension together.

ROBERT N. BENNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,118,851 McCallum May 31, 1938 2,140,823 Van Voorhis Dec. 20, 1938 

